Ariana Grande's "Sweetener" Tour Will Include a Special Manchester Show

Ariana Grande continues to give new meaning to the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving.” Over the past few weeks, the singer-songwriter has given fans an epic breakup anthem, an equally epic music video for said breakup anthem, a dreamy song about a forever unattainable love, and, of course, an impending world tour. And now, the pop star has revealed that the Sweetener world tour will include a special show for Manchester.

On Friday, December 14, Ariana shared the dates for the European leg of her upcoming tour, which will begin in August 2019. Soon enough, fans noticed that Manchester was not on the list. The pop star later revealed on her Instagram stories that Manchester was deliberately left off, because she was planning a “special show” for the city. “We need a bit more time getting things together before we can announce that date but we are, of course, coming and we love you,” Ariana’s post read. (While her Instagram story has since expired from the social media platform, it has been captured and shared on Twitter since.)

On May 22, 2017, 22 people were killed and dozens more were injured from a bombing at Ariana’s concert in Manchester. In the wake of the attack, Ariana has been open about how the incident affected her mental health, revealing that she’s experienced PTSD from the horrific event. “It's hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But, yeah, it's a real thing,” Ariana told British Vogue in July 2018. “Time is the biggest thing. I feel like I shouldn't even be talking about my own experience — like I shouldn't even say anything. I don't think I'll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”

Ariana has honored the victims and families several times before, taking part in a tribute concert just a week after the terrifying attack, which raised millions of dollars in donations for the victims. On the one-year anniversary of the attack, Ariana wrote on social media: “Thinking of you all today and every day. I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day.” In recent interviews, Ariana has admitted that the attack still weighs on her regularly. “I wish there was more that I could fix,” she told Time. You think with time it’ll become easier to talk about. Or you’ll make peace with it. But every day I wait for that peace to come and it’s still very painful.”